Charlene Ocampo's Memorial
Donation protected
Hi, my name's JR. My baby sister, Jana and I wanted to start a GoFundMe campaign for our dearest sister, Charlene, and her wonderful husband, Michael, a retired Technical Sergeant, Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, with the U.S. Air Force, and spirited son, Nico. Needless to say, given her dire heart situation, and the fact that she will have to quit her job, while waiting for a viable heart donor, leaves Team Ocampo in a precarious financial situation...
For anyone who's ever had the pleasure to meet Charlene, to say she's had it tough, is a massive understatement. Diagnosed with cancer when she was in middle school, undergoing chemotherapy treatments, to congestive heart failure, and a high risk birth of her son, among other medical issues, is just the tip of the iceberg.
Despite all that she was able to make a wonderful life for herself and her family as a supportive military wife, a stay at home mom, earned her B.S. in Information Systems - Database Development from Strayer University, a Sharepoint Intern at Weatherford, a gourmet chef of home cooked meals, a spoiler of nieces/nephews/godchildren with gifts & candies, and a sympathetic ear to Jana and I (and am sure others) when we needed advice on how to be a kick ass parent/spouse/that little extra to add to a recipe.
I couldn't get through most of this description, without having to pause a couple moments, to dab my excessive tears, but it's all for LOVE. :)
Me, personally, I can't wait until we can share moments of obscure movie quotes, and sharing what new candy finds we've discovered.
We, along with all who LOVE YOU, are here for your 'charli baltim0re'
#PRAYFORCHAR
but in my sister's words, on her 'journey to get a new heart' blog: https://brokenheartsandbacklessgowns.wordpress.com/
"Hi, I’m Charlene and I am waiting for a new heart. My story began in 1994, but not as a heart patient, but as a 12 year old girl diagnosed with Cancer. It was a rare form of Ewings Sarcoma called Askins that formed in my chest wall. I was the first in my family to be diagnosed with Cancer. I went through about a year and a half of chemotherapy, and about six weeks of radiation therapy. I lost my hair, was super skinny, experienced multiple blood transfusions, and couldn’t even go to a regular school. As a pre-teen, trying to identify myself, I found it super hard. I was often mistaken for a boy or a gang member (because I wore a bandana to cover my bald head). It ruined my self-esteem which explains why I am still so self-conscious about everything. I hated it, but I went through it.
Fast forward a couple years during one of my post therapy checkups, I was diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy due to a side-effect from the chemo and radiation. Eventually, my Cardiomyopathy led to Congestive Heart Failure. My diet changed, my meds increased, and I would find myself feeling more and more fatigued. In fact, my body got so stressed that I ended up in the hospital and I ended up missing my wedding rehearsal and had to beg my doctor to release me so I could make it to my wedding.
About two years after getting married, my CHF got worse and I had to get a defibrillator/pacemaker implant, which only lasted two years because of a faulty battery and recalled wires. My son, Nico, wasn’t even one year old when I had it replaced (Yes, I had a baby against my doctor’s orders and I will never regret it). I had a good run with this one. I was pretty active in Charleston, SC. I could walk for hours at the farmers market, I exercised, I rarely had to go to the hospital.
When my husband, Mike, got approved for early retirement from the Air Force, we decided to move back home. I had a new set of doctors, and it felt like my health was digressing. He changed my meds drastically and my health kept getting worse in worse. I ended up going to the hospital on multiple occasions due to exacerbation of of my CHF. The treatment usually consisted of an increased dosage of my diuretics and I was able to breathe again. But during the last visit to my doctor’s office, my body didn’t seem to respond to the diuretics. I was so fatigued that I couldn’t even walk to my car without being out of breath and my eyes were becoming jaundiced, so I checked into the ER to get diuresed. That’s when I found out my heart was starting to give up.
So no, this blog isn’t about romance and sexy evening wear. It is my documented journey to getting a new heart for my current broken one, while typing in an over-sized, backless hospital gown…"
For anyone who's ever had the pleasure to meet Charlene, to say she's had it tough, is a massive understatement. Diagnosed with cancer when she was in middle school, undergoing chemotherapy treatments, to congestive heart failure, and a high risk birth of her son, among other medical issues, is just the tip of the iceberg.
Despite all that she was able to make a wonderful life for herself and her family as a supportive military wife, a stay at home mom, earned her B.S. in Information Systems - Database Development from Strayer University, a Sharepoint Intern at Weatherford, a gourmet chef of home cooked meals, a spoiler of nieces/nephews/godchildren with gifts & candies, and a sympathetic ear to Jana and I (and am sure others) when we needed advice on how to be a kick ass parent/spouse/that little extra to add to a recipe.
I couldn't get through most of this description, without having to pause a couple moments, to dab my excessive tears, but it's all for LOVE. :)
Me, personally, I can't wait until we can share moments of obscure movie quotes, and sharing what new candy finds we've discovered.
We, along with all who LOVE YOU, are here for your 'charli baltim0re'
#PRAYFORCHAR
but in my sister's words, on her 'journey to get a new heart' blog: https://brokenheartsandbacklessgowns.wordpress.com/
"Hi, I’m Charlene and I am waiting for a new heart. My story began in 1994, but not as a heart patient, but as a 12 year old girl diagnosed with Cancer. It was a rare form of Ewings Sarcoma called Askins that formed in my chest wall. I was the first in my family to be diagnosed with Cancer. I went through about a year and a half of chemotherapy, and about six weeks of radiation therapy. I lost my hair, was super skinny, experienced multiple blood transfusions, and couldn’t even go to a regular school. As a pre-teen, trying to identify myself, I found it super hard. I was often mistaken for a boy or a gang member (because I wore a bandana to cover my bald head). It ruined my self-esteem which explains why I am still so self-conscious about everything. I hated it, but I went through it.
Fast forward a couple years during one of my post therapy checkups, I was diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy due to a side-effect from the chemo and radiation. Eventually, my Cardiomyopathy led to Congestive Heart Failure. My diet changed, my meds increased, and I would find myself feeling more and more fatigued. In fact, my body got so stressed that I ended up in the hospital and I ended up missing my wedding rehearsal and had to beg my doctor to release me so I could make it to my wedding.
About two years after getting married, my CHF got worse and I had to get a defibrillator/pacemaker implant, which only lasted two years because of a faulty battery and recalled wires. My son, Nico, wasn’t even one year old when I had it replaced (Yes, I had a baby against my doctor’s orders and I will never regret it). I had a good run with this one. I was pretty active in Charleston, SC. I could walk for hours at the farmers market, I exercised, I rarely had to go to the hospital.
When my husband, Mike, got approved for early retirement from the Air Force, we decided to move back home. I had a new set of doctors, and it felt like my health was digressing. He changed my meds drastically and my health kept getting worse in worse. I ended up going to the hospital on multiple occasions due to exacerbation of of my CHF. The treatment usually consisted of an increased dosage of my diuretics and I was able to breathe again. But during the last visit to my doctor’s office, my body didn’t seem to respond to the diuretics. I was so fatigued that I couldn’t even walk to my car without being out of breath and my eyes were becoming jaundiced, so I checked into the ER to get diuresed. That’s when I found out my heart was starting to give up.
So no, this blog isn’t about romance and sexy evening wear. It is my documented journey to getting a new heart for my current broken one, while typing in an over-sized, backless hospital gown…"
Organizer and beneficiary
JR Salvacion
Organizer
Cypress, TX
Michael Ocampo
Beneficiary
